Tagging the seen/not-seen status of a real time message

Abstract

A method, system and apparatus for tagging the seen/not-seen status of an instant message. A method for tagging a seen/not-seen status of a real time message can include receiving a real time message and presenting the real time message through a real time communications client disposed in a host client computing device. The environmental characteristics of the host client computing device can be inspected to determine whether the real time message has likely been reviewed. As such, if it is determined that the real time message has likely been reviewed based upon the inspected environmental characteristics, the real time message can be tagged as seen.

We claim: 
     
       1. A method for tagging a seen/not-seen status of a real time message, the method comprising the steps of:
 receiving a real time message; 
 presenting said real time message through a real time communications client disposed in memory of a host client computing device; 
 inspecting whether or not said host client computing device is in a power savings mode or a screen saver mode to determine whether said real time message has not been reviewed; and, 
 upon determining that said real time message has not been reviewed, tagging said real time message as not seen. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of posting an acknowledgment to a sender of said real time message if it is determined that said real time message has been reviewed. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , wherein said receiving step comprises the step of receiving one of an instant message, a text message, a voice message, an image, or a polling question. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1 , wherein said presenting step comprises the step of presenting said real time message in a visual user interface. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1 , wherein said presenting step comprises the step of presenting said real time message in an audible user interface. 
     
     
       6. A system for tagging a seen/not-seen status of a real time message comprising:
 a real time communications system client disposed in memory of a host client computing device; and, 
 a seen/not-seen processor coupled to said real time communications system client, said processor comprising program code executing in the memory of the host client computing device, inspecting whether or not said host client computing device is in a power savings mode or a screen saver mode to determine whether a real time message in the real time communications system client has not been reviewed and upon determining that said real time message has not been reviewed, tagging said real time message as not seen. 
 
     
     
       7. A machine readable storage medium having stored thereon a computer program for tagging a seen/not-seen status of a real time message, the computer program comprising a routine set of instructions which when executed by a processor of a machine causes the machine to perform the steps of:
 receiving a real time message; 
 presenting said real time message through a real time communications client disposed in memory of a host client computing device; 
 inspecting whether or not said host client computing device is in a power savings mode or a screen saver mode to determine whether said real time message has not been reviewed; and, 
 upon determining that said real time message has not been reviewed, tagging said real time message as not seen. 
 
     
     
       8. The machine readable storage of  claim 7 , wherein the computer program comprises further instructions for causing the machine to perform the step of posting an acknowledgment to a sender of said real time message if it is determined that said real time message has been reviewed. 
     
     
       9. The machine readable storage of  claim 7 , wherein said receiving step comprises the step of receiving one of an instant message, a text message, a voice message, an image, or a polling question. 
     
     
       10. The machine readable storage of  claim 7 , wherein said presenting step comprises the step of presenting said real time message in a visual user interface. 
     
     
       11. The machine readable storage of  claim 7 , wherein said presenting step comprises the step of presenting said real time message in an audible user interface.